Rides ‘n Smiles – a chance to give something back to children in need

The author, and a happy passenger, at speed in the SRT Viper GTC. Photos by Kate Ernst unless otherwise noted.

Many of us who earn a living writing about automobiles once had visions of racing professionally, only to learn that our skill sets (or our bank accounts) didn’t measure up to our ambitions. Despite this, we’ve run thousands of laps at tracks across the country or around the world, most in the name of “reviewing cars.” Aside from penning articles for readers to enjoy, it’s rare that we get a chance to use our odd skill set for something really positive, but Rides ‘n Smiles, held annually at Homestead Miami Speedway, is one such event.

The brainchild of former Group 44 driver Bill Adam (honored in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame), Rides ‘n Smiles was founded on a simple idea: What if giving pediatric cancer patients rides on a racetrack, in contemporary sports cars, could take their minds off of their problems for even a single day?

Since 2007, with the help of automakers, press fleet and event management companies Prestige Auto and STI, Homestead Miami Speedway, and the members of the Southern Automotive Media Association, the event has done just that. Passengers get two laps on the road course at the track, followed by lunch and an award ceremony where “100 MPH Club” certificates are handed out, along with gift bags filled by the generosity of donors.

A young racing fan dreams big.

Pediatric patients, some facing life-threatening illnesses, come from Miami area hospitals. Family members are welcome to participate also, and the “spiritedness” of the lap depends upon the health of the passengers, but the goal is to induct most into the “100 MPH Club.” Drivers, all of whom have prior racetrack experience, are personally vetted by Bill, ensuring that Rides ‘n Smiles maintains its perfect safety record.

The mid-morning line for rides. Photo courtesy Charisculture.

In 2012, the event expanded to include wounded veterans, and today the program comprises active duty military as well. Many come from the nearby Homestead Air Reserve base, and generously donate their time escorting and loading children into and out of cars. It’s fitting, then, that the afternoon session is typically reserved for higher-performance cars, driven by active racers, with military members riding shotgun.

Staging the cars and awaiting passengers. Yes, that is a Rolls-Royce in the inside lane.Photo courtesy Charisculture.

A family visit had me in the Miami area at the same time as this year’s Rides ‘n Smiles, so I once again asked to be part of the event in some way. To my ill-hidden delight, Bill asked me to reprise my 2010 role and chauffeur passengers in a Viper coupe. This time around, it was the 2016 Dodge Viper GTC coupe, a 645-horsepower, V-10 slap in the face to political correctness generously loaned to the event by FCA’s SRT group. Half my day would be spent in the Viper, but then I’d swap keys with Racer and Autoweek contributor Steven Cole Smith, who was driving a 2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO Edition, on loan from Nissan, in the first session.

Not all cars were new; this MGA coupe was on display, too.

The new Viper coupe, very likely the last of the breed as the model is once again on the chopping block, is far more refined than the car it replaced, yet it retains the same raucous and over-the-top nature of the original. Yes, it’s still a meat clever, but now it’s a meat clever that boasts a blade honed and polished by Italian craftsmen, with a carbon-fiber handle.

Gone are the unforgiving ways of the old car (which, without stability control, required careful application of the throttle with the front wheels pointed anywhere but straight ahead), replaced by a tamer snake that’s lost none of its potency. Even the six-speed manual transmission is a leap forward from the last car, now preferring finesse to the brute force formerly required when rowing gears.

Plenty fast, the Viper is also blessed with four-piston Brembo brakes in each corner, ensuring that the car stops as well as it goes. In short, if this is indeed the last Viper, it’s a fitting way to send the model into the sunset, and a tribute to the passion of SRT’s engineering staff.

Stopping for a fare in the 2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO.

If the Viper is a meat clever, then certainly the Nissan GT-R NISMO edition is a gendaito, or post-Meiji period katana. Despite a 45-horsepower deficit to the Viper and the addition of all-wheel drive, the Nissan GT-R NISMO felt both quicker in acceleration and more nimble through the corners (though admittedly, the unique-to-the-GT-R Dunlop Sport Maxx tires were more vocal in their displeasure when pushed hard).

Like most modern supercars, the GT-R isn’t available with a manual transmission, instead giving the driver paddle shifters and a choice of shift modes. Though rowing up and down through the gears with two pedals is quicker and more efficient than with three, it isn’t as entertaining, and those with a passion for sports cars of the past may be put off by the GT-R’s arcade-like displays and techno wizardry. That aside, I’d be hard-pressed to name a modern performance car that’s as fast and as forgiving as the Nissan GT-R, particularly in NISMO trim.

Bill Adam, the event’s founder, briefing the crowd.

The day was once again a great success for all involved, and putting smiles on the faces of children who may not have much else to smile about never gets old. A few of my track sessions included members of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, and one said to me mid-lap, “You know you have the greatest job in the world, right?”

The smiles extend to the drivers, too. Photo courtesy Charisculture.

Under a perfect blue sky at Miami Homestead Speedway, after a morning of giving kids in need an experience they would likely never forget, it was hard to argue with him.

BOBBY JOHNSONsays:

March 3, 2016 3:20 pm

Howard Arbituresays:

March 3, 2016 4:34 pm

I’ve always thought teeth was G-d’s cruelest mistake, but it pales in comparison to sick children. It’s one thing to smoke and drink oneself into an illness, but children never asked for any of that, and I have the utmost respect for anyone that helps them, in any way. While the cars do nothing for me, (‘cept the MG) I guess the opposite of the “cruelest mistake” ( sick children) is the blessing of people that help them. I don’t think I could do it, as I’d cry the whole time, probably not the best thing for children to see. Thanks for doing that. You just never know how far an outing like that will go. And it gives the parents a welcome relief from the heartaches they’ve already been through.
Quick story about my beloved drag racing drivers. A few years ago, while at the “Test and tune” drag races at W.Palm Beach raceway in Fla., Tony Schumacher ( top fuel) was riding around greeting everyone in his remodeled golf cart, when he stopped at a father and son, little boy was in a wheel chair, said a few words to the father, went, picked up the kid, set him in his golf cart, ( kids eyes were like baseballs) and took him to his “pits” and let him sit in the race car. The kid was overwhelmed, and the father, as well. That one gesture cemented Tony Schumacher, in my eyes, as the greatest driver ever, and not just for his superior driving abilities either. I was overcome with emotion.

Peewee Furmansays:

March 3, 2016 9:51 pm

Chuck Canucksays:

March 3, 2016 8:14 pm

Excellent cause and many kudos to those who donated their cars and time. What could be more rewarding than putting a smile on the face of a child or wounded veteran facing a battle far tougher than any of us can imagine.

raysays:

March 3, 2016 9:01 pm

……sounds like a win/win/win event for all concerned, especially the young patients…..hope you didn’t forget to take your photographer for a couple of laps….
…….always amazed me on the few informal ridealongs I’ve given (and taken)……some passengers start screaming for dear life in the pit lane, while others are completely unimpressed, even bored, in an 8 tenths 4th gear corner…..must be a fear gene thing, all sane people have it, just in varying degrees…..

Kurt Ernstsays:

March 4, 2016 7:26 am

Ray, I always ask passengers to give me a thumbs up if they want to go faster, and a thumbs down if I’m going too fast for their comfort. I can’t recall ever getting a thumbs down from a child, or getting a thumbs up from a parent…

starsailingsays:

March 4, 2016 2:38 am

Just got the news today from my 27 yr old son that he does not have cancer. Month ago he fell and blacked out having a seizure. Woke up in ambulance.. After some scans out west in Mont. , Dr first said cyst, then 2 days later dr changed and told him tumor with good chance of cancer. Tried to get him home asap, he always wanted to visit Hawaii. Air fare home about same as to Hawaii. He went to Honolulu, had 30 bucks when he landed. Shut off his phone, feeling fatal. Long story short, found him, got him home, saw the right drs and tests….What caused seizure is still unknown.
While we waited these few weeks, we talked of all the cruises, letting him drive the 58 Imp chev at 10 down dirt road, first burnout at 15, all the friends and kids we took in the 58, swimming and not even putting towels on seats, to baseball, to football games, car shows , slot car racing hobby store, using it for proms, taking friends on vacations in the 58, letting any kid at a car show sit in the 58 and play with 8 track…….Simply put…the sharing of what you have , what you are blessed with, can make a child smile for the rest of their life. You never now how long a lifetime will be, cradle to graves can sometimes only seconds. No matter how hard you try…..you can’t take all these toys/investments with you. Share them while you can….you can make a difference in a life.

Howard Arbituresays:

March 4, 2016 9:30 am

Hi starsailing, so, how does that feel to have the world lifted off your shoulders? Of all the scary things I’ve done in my life, ( fast cars, snowmobiles, motorcycles, chainsaws, etc.) it all pales in comparison to having a child sick. Not to scare you, but my sister died of a brain tumor at 41, and it all started with her fainting. That was 15 years ago, and a lot of good has come out of cases like her’s, where doctors really had no clue what to do and while I miss my sister, I like to think someone may have benefited from the operations they did on her. Every family has a story, no one is immune. Glad to hear he’s ok.

starsailingsays:

March 4, 2016 10:23 am

Hi Howard. Thankyou. Yes, somewhat relieved , simply burned out now. Still we wonder what it was that made him have a seizure. Fractured his spine 3 places from fall. He is 27, had several concussions /football/Rugby. But everything looks ok according to Drs, then again they misdiagnosed me few yrs back. We got him snapped out of the funk from it and thinking good life choices for future. All the support from friends showing up, and the fun they had growing up around functions centered on driving the 58 somewhere with Cody. So many positive comments from these kids and growing up with the fun we had.(MEN now, but I still see a twelve yr old kid behind their beards and 6 ft frames)
The Viper in the story above reminded us of how Cody and me followed a blue Viper ahead of us…going to a cruise on University Ave-to Porky’s….Finally got along side of it pretending I wanted to race it( wasn’t going to, just wanted to irk him to see it fly)…..Ya well he flew fishtailing through the gears….block away he was pulled over and got a handful of tickets…My Bad….But Cody saw how quick Vipers were!

Dalesays:

March 4, 2016 5:21 am

Don Homuthsays:

March 4, 2016 9:24 am

Any event where interesting cars can be Driven, and not remain on static display, is A Good Thing by inspection. That’s what cars are for.
That it can be done in the Excellent cause of children and wounded veterans is icing on the cake.
Kudos all around!

JPsays:

March 4, 2016 9:28 am

Love it. Wayne Carini took a sick kid for a spin in a real 427 Cobra on his show, same concept and I love it. Hats off to all involved. It’s a great way to do a little something to help sick kids take their minds off of their troubles for a bit.

John Msays:

March 4, 2016 6:05 pm

LMNZ06says:

March 4, 2016 7:00 pm

I’m involved with The Dream Cruise/Dream Show in Farmington, CT. We take Special Olympics athletes in our cars for a cruise from Papas Dodge in New Britain to the Farmington Club for dinner and recognition. It’s a great event and very rewarding. The athletes love it. Anyone from the Hartford, CT area please join us on August 27 and 28 2016. Dreamride.org